Shop Notes #5: Finishing it?

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Out in the shop today working on my desk chair which is a found item from a resale shop many years ago. Thought it had some character. It’s been sitting gathering dust and cat hair for a few years now.

Just decided to refurbish it for my reopened office. Thought it was mahogany but it turns out it is 1/3rd mahogany.

I was going to rub down the finish with four ought (o#0000) steel wool and put a coat of stain and poly on it. When I go started it needed to be taken apart as most of the fluted dowel pins were dried out.

Then I decided to remove the finish. Sanded to 220 grit, but that took awhile. Found that there are various species under the finish.

the woods have different densities and some small knots.

Not the best for a fluted leg chair in an Art Deco style? Today I put on a seal coat, and bought chestnut stain.

There is a lot of time in this chair (sanding the fluted parts and the routed groves in the arms.) It will be stronger and it will last a while longer. But boy how they made cheap furniture way back when.

I was wondering what would other people do?

What would be your method for doing this?

If it were all mahogany I’d just go with natural finish.

But I am learning as I make my mistakes. LOL!

What would be your go to finish? and why?

Thanks

Source: LumberJocks.com

Shop Notes #5: Finishing it?